Mr. Zuckerberg, Do I Have Your Full Attention?

Part 3 of a 4-part series on creating successful company wellness programs.

While wellness programs can generate a significant ROI on health care costs, as well as improve productivity, absenteeism, stress and engagement, businesses must first set up a dynamic plan for success centered on the following four pillars:

Leadership

Corporate Culture

Communication

Measurement

You talking to me?

Communication is often the missing component when it comes to implementing and executing a successful wellness program.Communication can come in many different forms, but the key is to incorporate a multi-faceted approach that obtains the return on investment you are seeking as an organization. Employees need an understanding of how their involvement in the wellness program will benefit them. Messagingshould surround incentives, the overall success of the program, the impact of wellness on the company and additional wellness initiatives that are forthcoming. But most of all, make the communication fun, interesting and relevant.

Drop the "The"... just "Facebook"... it's cleaner.

In order for your health and wellness communications to be effective, they must be reaching your employees. Odds are, many employees and their families are already on social media, so taking your message there is a strategic way to expand the reach of your wellness communications. The best places to start communicating are FacebookÂ® and TwitterÂ®, as they are likely the most popular among your employee population. Create Facebook and Twitter accounts separate from your company accountsthese new accounts will be employee-focused and can include internal communications, wellness and benefits communications. Dont simply announce that your company has created internal accounts; rather, share the benefits for employees, such as:

Access to regular health and wellness tips for living a healthier lifestyle

Education to help them become smarter health care consumers and save money on health care

An opportunity to connect with other employees and discuss wellness trends or issues

Easy-to-access information, available anytime

Ability to ask questions or share feedback about the wellness program

Updates on wellness events, incentives or contests, so employees are always in the loop

As youre getting the message out, promote it in several areas. Add a tagline in email signatures, post links on your intranet site, sendannouncements around the office, etc.

Friend me. Tweet me. Any way you want to reach me.

Remember to build a wellness communication plan before you get started with social media, so employees dont follow you and then get disappointed by a lack of consistent posts. Here are some ideas of what to post:

Make sure to interact! This should not be a one-way communication channel. A major benefit of social media is the ability to converse and elicit feedback. If employees comment or ask a question, be sure to reply so they know you are listening and want to hear from them. And go further by asking for inputentice employees to share creative wellness tips or what their favorite exercise trend is.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jill Micklow

Jill Micklow is a Wellness Manager on Assurance’s Risk Management team. With a passion for improving the health of companies and their employees, Jill works closely with her clients to create large-scale corporate wellness programs. After first identifying her clients' specific health and wellness goals, Jill then helps to develop, implement and manage a strategic wellness program tailored to their needs. Jill joined Assurance in 2009 and has since received certifications as a Group Benefits Associate (GBA), Certified Worksite Wellness Specialist (CWWS) and Certified Worksite Wellness Program Manager (CWWPM). Jill is proud to serve as 2018 Co-Chair on the American Heart Association Worksite Wellness Committee. Prior to Assurance, she graduated Summa cum Laude from St. Norbert College with a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Finance.